A location near the Colorado Springs Airport will soon feature 160 acres of resources aimed at providing you with reliable and cost-effective energy for years to come.
Known as the Horizon Utility Campus, the site already includes a new electric substation that was energized in 2024. Other additions include:
- 100 megawatts (MW) of battery storage
- Two natural gas gate stations to support the natural gas generating units at the South Plant site
Natural gas generators
The site was originally designed to include 400 MW of natural gas-based generation from 10 units similar to those on the former Martin Drake Power Plant site. The technology is highly efficient and produces lower emissions than other options.
The development plan approval process for the project includes multiple jurisdictions, including the Colorado Springs Airport. The airport determined it needed assistance reviewing the power plant's thermal plume (exhaust) analysis. A Safety Risk Management Panel, which included local aviation experts, was held to review the safety concerns associated with airport operations.
The panel concluded that the only mitigation strategy that would remove the potential for safety risks was to move the plant to a new site.
We are exploring other options to relocate the generators, such as Williams Creek, located southeast of Fountain.
Battery energy storage
We will be moving forward with the planned construction of our second 100 MW battery energy storage system at the site. The battery storage will likely mirror the size and appearance of our first system, located at the Jackson Fuller Substation in northeastern Colorado Springs, near East Woodmen Road and Golden Sage Road.
Natural gas-based electric generation and battery energy system storage will allow us to make a careful transition to new technologies and renewable resources without compromising the reliability of our services.
Project timeline
• Q2 & Q3 2025: Public meeting & community engagement opportunities
• Q2 2026: Construction starts on battery energy storage project
• Q2 2028: Natural gas gate stations complete
• Q4 2029: Battery storage complete
How to engage
As a citizen of Colorado Springs, you own your utility. We are committed to keeping you informed and providing meaningful opportunities for you to have a voice in making utility decisions that impact our community.
To stay up to date with information about the Horizon Utility Campus project:
- Read this blog with updates about our energy transition.
- Email engage@csu.org with questions or concerns
- Leave a message at (719) 668-7765 for our Community Engagement team. We respond in 24 business hours.
- Do you have specific feedback about this project? Fill out this form to share your comments.
